Pakistan’s army confirmed killing 16 armed militants in a midnight battle along its western frontier with Afghanistan between March 22 and 23 in North Waziristan. The militants, who were trying to enter Pakistan, were targeted by Pakistani troops manning the border. The army reiterated its determination to secure the borders of the country and combat terrorism.
This incident points to the continuation of tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan, with Pakistan calling on the Afghan government to beef up border security. The incident occurred during the visit of Pakistan’s Special Representative for Afghanistan to Kabul for talks with the Afghan government on bilateral ties and economic concerns.
Relations between the two nations have worsened in recent years, with Pakistan blaming the Afghan Taliban for not being able to contain the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a militant organization that has carried out hundreds of attacks in Pakistan. In 2024, more than 500 attacks have claimed over 1,500 lives. While the TTP is distinct from the Afghan Taliban, Pakistan blames Kabul for harboring TTP militants, which Kabul denies.
These tensions are further fueled by the Taliban’s recapture of power in Afghanistan in 2021 following the U.S. and NATO withdrawal.